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Free Classic Literature Courses
Learn about classical literature with these free online courses. Whether it's on novels by Melville, Twain, Faulkner and Morrison or classical literature from the Golden Age of Rome, chances are you will find a course that interests you.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT offers a plethora of classic literature courses online for free. Class topics include authors like Mark Twain, Herman Melville, John Milton, Oscar Wilde, American women writers, and much more. Students will focus on the required readings for their respective classes. Classes include assignments, such as writing essays, that may be completed at the student's convenience.
- Popular Narrative: Masterminds
- Darwin and Design
- Classical Literature: The Golden Age of Augustan Rome
- Medieval Literature: Medieval Women Writers
- Studies in Fiction: Stowe, Twain and the Transformation of 19th-Century America
- Major Authors: John Milton
- Major Authors: Melville and Morrison
- Learning for the Past: Drama, Science, Performance
- Tragedy
- Medieval Literature: Dante, Boccaccio, Chaucer
- American Authors: American Women Authors
- Major Authors: Oscar Wilde and the 90's
- Masterworks in American Short Fiction
- Major Authors: After the Masterpiece: Novels by Melville, Twain, Faulkner and Morrison
- Comedy
Free Online Classic Literature Courses At a Glance
| Course & School | Program Level | Format | Assignments | Quizzes & Exams | Downloadable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popular Narrative: Masterminds course from MIT | Undergraduate/graduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Darwin and Design course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Classical Literature: The Golden Age of Augustan Rome course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Medieval Literature: Medieval Women Writers course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Studies in Fiction: Stowe, Twain and the Transformation of 19th-Century America course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Major Authors: John Milton course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Major Authors: Melville and Morrison course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Learning for the Past: Drama, Science, Performance course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tragedy course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Medieval Literature: Dante, Boccaccio, Chaucer course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| American Authors: American Women Authors course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Major Authors: Oscar Wilde and the 90's course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Masterworks in American Short Fiction course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Major Authors: After the Masterpiece: Novels by Melville, Twain, Faulkner and Morrison course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
| Comedy course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text | Yes | No | Yes |
